The Princess of Wales has disclosed she has been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer and is in the early stages of receiving chemotherapy treatment in a video message on Friday evening.
The Princess, 42, said that when she underwent major abdominal surgery in January, “it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous”.
The surgery, which took place at the London Clinic, was successful. After 13 nights in hospital, the princess left the clinic on 29 January. “However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” she said on Friday.
Kensington Palace said it would not be sharing any further medical information about the form or stage of cancer that was discovered.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have wished “health and healing” for the Princess of Wales. Harry and Meghan said they hoped Kate and her family were able to heal “privately”.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles is “so proud of Catherine (the Princess of Wales) for her courage in speaking as she did”. The statement said that after their time in hospital together, the king has “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks”. It added that the king and queen “will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time”. Charles is also receiving treatment for an undisclosed cancer, which was announced on 5 February.
The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “My thoughts are with the Princess of Wales, Prince of Wales, the royal family and in particular her three children at this difficult time” and that she has “the love and support of the whole country”, while criticising what he said was the “intense scrutiny” and unfair treatment of her by “certain sections of the media around the world and on social media”.
